ABSTRACT
In garrison towns, army constituted focal point of social and economic life. Military infrastructure contributed to city’s modernization. Through generations, historic army barracks were a reminder of past splendor for the citizens. As a result of turbulent geopolitics in Lower Silesia in the 20th century these objects, once venerated by the natives were handed over to newcomers, for whom they held little sentimental value and then were altogether abandoned and left for ruin. Nowadays, they are sold to private investors who raze them to the ground or disfigure them in the process of adaptation. Regeneration of these versatile compounds is ecologically, economically and psycho-sociologically beneficial, however should be properly supervised, so that they are not deprived of their original characteristics, but serve as evidence of history while fulfilling their new functions. Without them the cultural landscape of garrison towns will become unintelligible to both previous and present inhabitants.
